DRIVE-E POWERTRAINS

ENJOY MORE, USING LESS

The new Volvo XC60 has compact, lightweight powertrains that give you more driving enjoyment and lower emissions. This is Drive-E technology and the T8 Twin Engine in action, explains Michael Fleiss, Vice President of Powertrain Engineering

Words: Leo Wilkinson

DRIVE-E POWERTRAINS

“A great car starts with a great powertrain,” says Michael Fleiss, Vice President of Powertrain Engineering at Volvo Cars. “It’s such a big part of how it makes you feel when you are driving.”

Michael and his team have developed a range of Drive-E powertrains for the new Volvo XC60 that will make every drive something to enjoy. At the heart of each is a compact, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. When combined with innovations such as electrification, supercharging and low-friction technology the result is maximum performance and minimum fuel consumption and emissions.

This new generation of powertrains is an example of innovative downsizing technology, which Michael helped pioneer in the automotive industry. “I’ve been working on this kind of tech for a while and it’s still exciting,” Michael says. “We’re at the forefront of things and it’s satisfying to see the positive reaction to what we’re doing.”

The Volvo XC60 is the next step forward, and builds on Michael’s work with the new XC90. “We showed with the XC90 that we can match V6 performance with four-cylinder engines, while achieving lower emissions,” Michael says. “Compact engines also allow space for sophisticated suspension that provides better comfort and more fun. And reducing weight over the front wheels makes the car more agile.”

"The Volvo XC60 T8 Twin Engine epitomises what Drive-E is all about. This plug-in hybrid model is the most powerful in the range, yet it has the lowest emissions.
“I think it’s fantastic that our top-of-the-range car is a plug-in hybrid,” Michael says.

The T8 Twin Engine combines a turbocharged and supercharged petrol engine with an electric motor to create a true performance car with a mode to suit every journey. Select Pure mode for an electric-only, zero-emissions range of up to 40km – enough for most commutes. Choose Power mode for maximum performance. Or leave it in default Hybrid mode and let the car choose between power sources – or combine them – to keep you moving as smoothly and efficiently as possible. There’s also the reassurance of all-wheel drive when you need it.

With the same luggage space as any other Volvo XC60 and a beautiful Orrefors crystal gearshifter as standard, the T8 Twin Engine offers the best of everything. As Michael says: “Drive-E is about power without compromise.”"

Michael Fleiss - Vice President of Powertrain Engineering, Volvo Cars

It’s about that feeling of responsive power, not what’s under the bonnet